Improvement in hog-feeding troughs



MCELRATH & Hom; HTONt Improvement in Hog-Feeding Troughs.

Patented Aug. 20, 18123.

UNITED STATES PATENT CDEEICEo N JAMES H. MCELRATH AND 'LORENZO M. HOUGHTON, OF PRINCETON, ILL.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOGFEEDING TROUGHS.

Speciticationforming part of Letters Patent No. 130,735, dated August 20, 1872.

SrEcIEIcATION.

hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has for its object the feeding of hogs in an economical and convenient manner; `and relates to that class of receptacles which are provided with side openings regulated by slides, which openings deliver the food in the receptacle into side troughs ac- .cessible to the animals; and consists in the specific construction of certain parts, by means of which the hogs are prevented from getting into the feeding-trough, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a transverse sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a partial perspective view, of the same.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

A represents a base-board, constructed of any proper material and suitable size, to which are connected in any proper manner the end boards B B. C C represent the side boards which connect together the end boards for the purpose of forming the main receptacle, which side boards are inclined inward from the top downward, as shown. These boards are not wide enough to extend entirely down to the base-board, so that a space is left between their lower edges and the latter. For the pun pose of regulating the width of these openings a slide-board, D, adapted to move in suitable grooves, is employed upon each side, as shown. E represents a dividing-bar having inclined sides, which is centrally located upon the base-board, as shown. F represents a strip employed upon each side, the lower edge of which rests upon the base-board, and the ends of which are attached to the end boards B B. This strip forms the front part of the feedingtrough or tray. G represents the covering-board.

The manner of using our invention is as follows: Corn, either soaked or dry, or other proper food, is placed in the receptacle. When thus placed it is caused by meansof the inclined bar or board E to pass out in greater or less quantities, according to the position of the slides D, into the trough, where it may be taken by the hogs. It will be observed that Vby means of the inclined sides of the main receptacle, which sides incline over the feedingtroughs, the hogs are prevented from getting into the trough, the space in which the food is placed being only suicient for the insertion of their heads. The device is adapted to permit the hogs to feed upon each side. By its employment food is fed out as it is wanted, and hence there is no waste, and moreover it is kept in a cleanly condition.

We do not claim, broadly, an automatic feeder provided with a dividing-block or with regulating-slides; but

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a feeder, of substantially the described construction, the sides C C inclining over the trough, as described, and the strips Gg arranged relatively to the inclined sides C (l, as described, for the purpose of preventing the hogs from getting into the trough, as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of June, 1872.

1 JAMES MOELRATH.

LORENZO M. HOUGHTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. BAILEY, H. M. TRIMELE. 

